Lyon days 5-6
The next day was our journey to Lyon! Julie told us on the bus ride from Amboise to Lyon that this new city would be kind of like the Paris for die-hard foodies. Any fancy restaurant desires you had, Lyon was your place.
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For me, Lyon was where I discovered how fun it was to be more adventurous then I normally was. I tried a lot of new things!
When we arrived, I went with the group on a walking tour of the neighborhood near our hotel. After picking up a premade dinner from the local Monoprix grocery store, I made plans in my room for the next day. Google Maps has a feature where you can save your favorite locations with different pins. I put down all my must-dos on the map. I also made an online reservation at Pathos, the local movie theater. I decided that the next day would be time for my first movie in a French cinema--without dubbing or subtitles.
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leaving Amboise, our group spotted hot air balloons soaring over our hotel
the bus heading into Lyon, a crowded, beautiful, food-forward city with many bridges and bustling life
The first item on the agenda the next day was the Lyon Zoo. Free to the public, family-friendly, and surrounded by a public park with miles of trails and gardens, the Lyon Zoo was one of my favorite off-the-beaten-path choices. Although it was raining (and I got lost taking the bus), I eventually made it to the zoo. They had a good variety of animals, from monkeys, zebras, giraffes, tapirs, and a red panda. After the zoo, I took the bus to the Centre D'histoire De La Resistance Et De La Deportation. This large museum was impeccably upkept in a WW2 era building. The stories and exhibits within told the history of Lyon during WW2. Although difficult to learn about the suffering that occured, it was a meaningful and well-spent afternoon in the museum.
I finished the day by watching Inside Out 2 (Vice Versa en francais) at the theater. Even though my French was very rusty, I loved the experience! I felt surrounded by the local community in the small theater attended by rained-out locals and kids with their parents. The French dubbing of one of my favorite movies was such a special experience, I planned to try it again on the trip.
Days 3 & 4
Every✅ shows a bucket list completed!
 my hotel room in Lyonnot depicted here, but my room included a tiny table perfect for takeout dinners |  The statue of Antoine de Saint-ExupéryJulie took us on a tour of Lyon. Bucket list item complete! ✅ |  orientation tour of Lyonthe streets near our hotel were beautiful, even in the rain |  Dinner inTo-go dinners from grocery stores are great when you're tired or want to see the local stores :) |
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 Lyon in the rain. . . still beautiful! Bring an umbrella and some water-resistant shoes |  Made it to the zoo!After getting lost for a long time haha! |  Lyon Zoogiraffe :) |  At Lyon's parkeven in the drizzle, the rose garden along the walking trail was beautiful |
 WW2 Museumincluded a somber and well-made walkthrough of WW2-era Lyon streets |  At the cinemaInside Out 2 in French was a special experience and a great end to a rainy day |
my top recommendations for the Lyon
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1. The city seems a little harsh at first--definitely big-city vibes. Make sure to bring a map with you and stick to crowded streets. After a while, it's easy to see Lyon's breathtaking beauty!
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2. The WWII Museum was an unexpected and meaningful experience. I recommend taking public transportation if you've already had a long day, though, as it's a traffic-filled walk back to the hotel.
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3. I definitely suggest watching a movie in French for francophiles! Pathos is a great theater with a really easy reservation feature on their app.
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4. If big cities are disorienting for you, take advantage of the tour guide's orientation tours. It was a great way to ease into Lyon with friends from the tour group.